In This Section

Will There Be Disunion?

Of course not. The idea of a peaceable secession is too preposterous to be entertained for a moment by any sane mind, and no less absurd is the supposition that a feeble State like South Carolina, with neither men nor money nor credit, could even seriously annoy the nation by an attempt at forceable disunion. It does not mend the matter to combine five or six states of like character. They all have not the means within themselves of keeping their negroes in subjection in such a contest, much less of seriously annoying the nation.

Will there be an effort? We greatly fear there will not be. We speak not for others, but we say that for one we are heartily tired of having this threat stare us in the face evermore. If nothing but blood will prevent it, let it flow. It has been the most mischievous power that has ever been known in our nation. To say nothing of the unequal and unjust concessions it extorted in the formation of the government, it has been a frightful ghost all along our pathway. In 1829 a wholesome tariff was enacted, under which most of our national debt was paid, and the country began to prosper. It was repealed in 1833, and the celebrated compromise tariff was substituted, just to please South Carolina, and keep her from secession. We need not remind our older readers of the financial crash which followed.—The industry and business of the country were not half so much paralized by the war with Mexico.

To say nothing of the constant shying off from that supposed danger in every act of national legislation—in the nomination of presidential candidates, and the selection of cabinet officers and foreign ministers, the same ghost frightened our congress in 1850 to the enactment of a law which would be a stain and a blot on any heathen nation—it is an outrage and a disgrace to ours, that should make every christian patriot blush. It was enacted to keep South Carolina from seceding, and the same thing induced good men, who abhorred it, to acquiesce in it.

Nothing but a fruitless effort at rebellion will cure the South—nothing but a successful one to crush it out will assure the North. We never have been better prepared for such a crisis than now. We most ardently desire that it may come. Except a few cowardly sycophants, or sympathizing traitors among us, we are ready. We are the more anxious because we fear some silly iniquitous compromise that will disgrace us more and embarrass us worse than ever, will be devised. Even now it is looming up. Leading Republican papers are pleading for it.—Rather than submit to another dishonorable compromise, we would prefer to settle the question of equal rights by the sword if need be. If a fear of secession—rebellion, TREASON is to overawe us forever, then are we not freemen.